What is a furnace and how does it work?
If you currently have central heating, you know just how awesome it is during the winter. No one likes to be cold in their home and rely SOLELY on space heaters!
But, what are the different types of heating systems you can have and how do they work? Today, we’ll talk about one kind of furnace – the gas furnace.
The gas furnace is precisely what you’d think it is. It is a furnace powered by gas. Natural gas to be more specific. A natural gas furnace is a great way to heat your home. It provides quick, powerful heating at a (relatively) low cost per month.
But, how does the system work?
Well… although we don’t have to get into all of the “techy” details, here is a basic understanding of just how your gas furnace works.
- You change your thermostat settings to indicate your desired home temperature. This sends a signal to your furnace.
- Your gas furnace control board will then ensure that all of your system’s safeties are operational. Safeties are continually monitored throughout the heating process.
- Natural gas ignites in the furnace and then air is delivered throughout your home via the ductwork (after a 30-second delay).
- If at any point during the heating process a safety is triggered, the natural gas furnace is cut off and the furnace will enter its shut-down sequence. This is so you and your family stay safe.
- When your thermostat measures a reading at your set temperature your natural gas furnace will shut down.
Of course, this is just one type of system (a single-stage system with a non-programmable thermostat). There are many other variations of gas furnaces and thermostats that can alter this process slightly, but this is the basic gist.
If it doesn’t seem like your gas furnace is operating correctly (e.g. blowing cold air, not kicking on, making loud noises, etc.), then you should switch off the system at both the thermostat and power supply, and call your local heating and cooling contractor.
So, did you already know this? Are you curious about how other heating and cooling systems work?
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Nice post. I think the way you have explained the working of furnace that make it so easy to understand. Thanks for writing a post about furnace and how it works.
It’s interesting how you said that natural gas ignites in a furnace and then helps to heat the air and pump it from the furnace. My wife and I have been considering getting a natural gas furnace and it’s good to know how it works. We’ll have to get a company that can help us with some residential gas delivery so we could fuel the furnace.
I appreciate what you said about natural gas igniting in the furnace in order to carry hot air throughout the home. When it comes to residential heating, it’s best to install a system with the help of a reputable heating contractor. I hate the cold weather, so it’ll be a good idea to find a reliable heating service before winter hits.